CBI starts probe into chopper deal

The CBI has asked the defence ministry to provide all relevant documents of the VVIP helicopter deal.

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NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday received a formal complaint from the government in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter scandal and some documents including primary reports, letters and clippings of Italian media stories. Sources said the agency is likely to register a preliminary enquiry on Thursday.

The CBI has asked the defence ministry to provide all relevant documents of the deal, mode of payment and list of people in IAF and the ministry who handled the deal with AgustaWestland. After registering the PE, the agency will start calling officials of the defence ministry and IAF who were involved in the deal.

After registering the enquiry, CBI will send a 'source query' to Italy seeking investigating report of police there, interrogation report of Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi and details of the company. Officials said they will take the help of Enforcement Directorate in the investigations.

The agency has approached the Indian mission in Italy to provide documents related to the investigation which is in public domain in case they do not succeed in procuring material through official channels, sources said.

The sources added that CBI is trying to get the report filed by public prosecutor Eugenio Fusco on the basis of which Orsi was arrested as it could help in zeroing in on Indians who could have been alleged beneficiaries of the bribes.

In February 2010, India had inked the Rs 3,600 crore deal to acquire 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for IAF's elite communication squadron, which ferries the president, PM and other VVIPs. The deal came under the scanner of Italian agencies after allegations of kickbacks surfaced.

It is alleged that Orsi, who was CEO of the company when the deal was struck, was involved in giving bribes. Around 50 million euros (Rs 362 crore approximately), about 10% of the deal, were alleged to have been given as bribes to ensure that the company clinched the contract.